Wal-Mart employees in Paramount go on strike

PARAMOUNT>> Wal-Mart workers at the retail chain’s store here are scheduled to go on strike as of 7:30 this morning, labor advocates announced.

Labor advocates had previously announced a protest at the Paramount store, which is at 14501 Lakewood Blvd., as the opening event in a two-day series of rallies against the retail chain.

A statement bearing the names of Our Walmart and United Food and Commercial Workers announced a rally today in Paramount and another one Thursday in the Chinatown area of Los Angeles.

Organizers say their goals are $25,000 per year pay for workers, more full-time employment at Wal-Mart and an end to what organizers describe as illegal retaliation.

Wal-Mart’s opposition to unionization is well-known and the company has said that it maintains an “open door policy” for employees to report concerns that makes formal unionization unnecessary. In their release announcing the protests, UFCW and Our Walmart include a disclaimer reporting that while they seek to help employees defend their rights, they are not seeking to collectively bargain for Wal-Mart employees.

The planned strike comes nearly one year after nearly 1,000 protestors rallied outside the Wal-Mart store on “Black Friday,” the day after Thanksgiving that is commonly one of the busiest shopping days of the year.